New York State Court of Chancery Register's and Assistant Register's Minute Books

Chronological. Volumes are arranged by an assigned sequential number, which appeared on the bindings (now mostly destroyed) and also occasionally on a volume's flyleaf. Entries within the minutes are chronological by date of court session.

The minute books in this series are a chronological record of proceedings in the Court of Chancery, including cases initiated by complaint or by petition. The minutes contain summaries or full texts of motions, preliminary and final orders, and final decrees, as well as entries for other actions by the court.

The minutes are primarily a record of sessions of the Court of Chancery in New York City. The series includes transcriptions of Series J0059, Register's Minute Books for the period April 1789-June 1816, made pursuant to an 1813 law. The minute books also include occasional copies of minutes of other sessions in Albany, the originals of which are in Series J0059.

The date, location, and name of the Chancellor are given for each session of the court. The names of the parties and their solicitors, summaries of motions and documents read or submitted, and actions taken by the court are recorded. The minutes include the texts or summaries of Chancellor's orders, including preliminary orders and final determinations. The minutes also include admission of solicitors and counselors to practice in the court, adoption of court rules, and other court business not related to cases.

Microfilmed for the New York County Clerk's Office in 1956. The original microfilm reel numbers, 3336 through 3360, are indicated on target sheets reproduced on the microfilm. Most volumes were split between one microfilm roll and the next. Subsequently the original microfilm rolls were spliced to group two or more entire volumes on a single microfilm roll, which is their present arrangement. For that reason there are multiple roll target sheets on each roll.

Six original volumes were not transferred to the State Archives in 2017. Microfilm reproductions are available for the six missing volumes, which covered the periods December 1717-May 1748, May 1727-March 1728, April 1770-January 1776, June 1785-April 1789, June 1844-April 1845, and October 1845-April 1846. Typewritten transcriptions, calendars, and indexes are available for the minute books covering the periods January 1712-July 1719 and December 1720-May 1748.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City holds a duplicate set of the microfilm. Some of the microfilm rolls have been digitized, and the images can be accessed online at Family Search Affiliate Libraries (including the New York State Archives and New York State Library). The microfilm and digital images are cataloged under the author "New York Chancery Court (New York County)," with the title "Minutes of the Court of Chancery, 1711-1847," Genealogical Society of Utah microfilm roll numbers 590388-590415.

J0090Series J0090, Orders and Minutes in Chancery and

JN322Series JN322, Assistant Register's Rough Minute Books, contain related records.

Alphabetical index by name of complainant or petitioner in almost all volumes.

Container list is available at the repository.

The position of Assistant Register of the Court of Chancery was established in 1802. His office was located in New York City. Series includes minute books created by the Assistant Register, as well as some earlier Register's minute books and transcriptions of several later Register's minute books. All the minute books were maintained together as a series by the Assistant Register and transferred to the New York County Clerk after the Court of Chancery was abolished effective July 1, 1847.

Use and reproduction of fragile documents may be restricted.